Gisborne homeless moved on from under city centre bridge

Homeless people were last week moved on from under Peel Street Bridge and various items removed.

• Contractors for Gisborne District Council removed bedding and other items from under the Peel St bridge.
• The council noted the area had been unoccupied for several days before the removal.
• Police stated they were not involved in the removal and confirmed two homeless people remained.

Homeless people living under the Peel St bridge were moved on last week.

On Friday, contractors working for Gisborne District Council removed bedding items from underneath the bridge – one of the haunts occupied by the city’s homeless.

The contractors filled a trailer with mattresses, bedding and other items mid-afternoon that day.

“Our team had noticed a wet and damaged couch and mattress, beer bottles and general rubbish underneath the bridge,” a council spokeswoman said.

“We requested our contractors remove those items. We’re aware people had been staying at that location, but as far as we could tell it hadn’t been occupied by anyone for several days prior to the removal.”

Police said they had nothing to do with any removal of homeless from under the bridge that day.

“We had a look under the bridge Monday afternoon and all of the property has been removed,” police said. “There were two homeless there with a few clothing items with them.”

Cyclists and pedestrians using the riverbank walkway had noticed homeless people living there for some time.